Earth moving material handling machine



Filed March 18, 1965 Jan. 24, 1967 L. H. KLINE EARTH MOVING MATERIAL HANDLING MACHINE INVENTOR. LEJTL-"E H. KL m5 ATTORNEYS Jan. 24, 1967 L. H. KLINE EARTH MOVING MATERIAL HANDLING MACHINE Filed March 18, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

L55 TEE H. M m5 BY W /4 4 MINI!" ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,300,069 EARTH MOVING MATERIAL HANDLING MACHINE Lester H. Kline, Dover, Ohio, assignor to The Warner & Swasey Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Mar. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 440,751 12 Claims. (Cl. 214-141) The present invention relates to a mobile material handling machine and, in particular, to a mobile material handling machine having a boom structure which is adapted to support a tool on the outermost end thereof for performing a work operation, such as grading, digging, trenching, and other earth-moving operations or for performing other material handling operations.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved mobile material handling machine, as noted above, having a boom structure which may be raised and lowered by actuation of manual controls located in an operators cab, and wherein the operators cab is movable from a traveling position wherein it is located such that it will interfere with the raising and lowering movement of the boom structure to a working position where it does not so interfere.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved mobile material handling machine having an operators cab supported on a support platform which supports a boom structure and wherein atleast a part of the boom structure moves in a vertical plane and a portion of the operators cab is located in the vertical plane when in a traveling position and the operators cab is supported for movement to a position out of the vertical plane wherein it will not interfere with the movement of the part of the boom in the vertical plane.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved mobile material handling machine having a carrier including spaced rear ground-engaging wheels and a boom structure supported on a support platform carried by the carrier and located centrally between said rear ground-engaging wheels and an operators cab supported by the support platform and movable from a traveling position located inwardly of the carrier to a position wherein a portion thereof extends outwardly of the ground-engaging wheels on one side of the carrier.

A more specific object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved mobile material handling machine having a support platform with a boom structure supported thereon and an operators cab supported thereon for movement relative thereto and a power means for moving at least a part of the boom structure in a vertical plane, and wherein the operators cab has a first position in which it would interfere with the extent of vertical movement of the boom and a second position in a non-interfering relation with the boom structure, and wherein the material handling machine includes a means for preventing operation of the power means for moving the boom when the operators cab is in its first position.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved material handling machine, as noted in the next preceding paragraph, wherein the power means for moving the boom vertically comprises an hydraulic motor and the motor is actuated upon actuation of an operators control, and the means for preventing actuation of the hydraulic motor comprises means for rendering the operators control ineffective.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof made with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a mobile material handling machine embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the mobile material handling machine of FIG. 1, looking at the machine of FIG. 1 from the right;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but with parts in a different position;

FIG. 4 is a schematic top plan view illustrating the different positions of parts of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan elevational view of a portion of the material handling machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the machine as shown in FIG. 5 with parts broken away;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the machine as shown in FIG. 5, taken approximately along the section line 7-7 thereof;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the machine as shown in FIG. 5, taken approximately along the section line 8-8 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of the machine as shown in FIG. 5, taken approximately along the section line 9-9 thereof.

The present invention provides a new and improved mobile material handling machine having a carrier which supports a platform on which a boom structure is supported. The boom structure is adapted to carry a material handling tool on the outermost end thereof and is operative to perform trenching, digging, grading, and other earth-handling operations, as well as other materialhandling operations. As illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a mobile material handling machine is illustrated in FIG. 1 and designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The material handling machine 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a carrier or truck structure 11. The carrier 11 is powered by a suitable motor and may be driven along highways, roads, etc The carrier 11 includes a drivers cab 12 and a bed 13 and has spaced front ground-engaging wheels 14 and rear ground-engaging wheels 15 located on the opposite sides of the bed 13. i

A support platform is carried by the carrier and specifically is carried by the bed 13 thereof and is supported thereby for rotation about a vertical axis. The support platform 20 is rotated about the vertical axis by well-known structure including hydraulic motors, not shown. The platform 20 supports a boom structure 21 which rotates with the support platform 20 upon rotation thereof. The boom structure 21 is supported on the platform 20 by spaced support or trunnion members 22 which are pivotally connected to the support platform 20 for raising or lowering movement in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis 24. A suitable hydraulic motor 25 is connected to the trunnions and is operable to effect raising and lowering of the boom structure and movement of the boom structure to the dotted position illustrated in FIG. 1.

The boom structure 21 includes a support or cradle portion 26 which is supported by the trunnions 22. A first boom section 28 is supported by the cradle 26 and an extensible boom section 30 is supported by the boom section 28 and is movable axially in an endwise manner relative to the boom section 23 and telescopes into the boom section 28. The boom section 30 is adapted to carry a suitable tool on the outermost end thereof. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a suitable bucket 31 is connected on the outermost end of the boom section 30 and which may be pivoted about a horizontal axis upon actuation of a hydraulic motor, not shown. The tool which is located on the boom section 30 will vary depending upon the type of work which the machine is going to perform. The boom structure 21 also includes a suitable hydraulic motor for rotating the boom sections 28 and 30 about their longitudinal axis.

The specific detailed construction of the boom structure and its method of support on the supporting platform, as well as the detailed construction of the drives for effecting the various movements described hereinabove, are well known and do not form a part of the present invention and will not, therefore, be described herein in detail. It should suffice to say that these mechanisms are incorporated in a machine marketed by The Warner & Swasey Company, the assignee of the present application, under the trademark Gradall.

, In accordance with the present invention, the supporting platform carries an operators cab 40 in which suitable controls, generally designated 41, are located to be manually actuated by an operator in the operators cab 40 to effect operation of the mechanism and, specifically, to effect the telescoping movement of the boom'section 30, actuation of the bucket or tool supported on the outermost end of the boom section 30, rotation of the boom 1 section about its own taxis, raising and lowering of the boom structure about the axis 24, and rotation of the supporting platform 20. r

g In view of the fact that the vehicle 10' is a mobile vehicle and travels along highways, roads, etc., it is necessary to maintain the width of the vehicle when traveling along the highways within the width prescribed by law. It is necessary, therefore, to position the operators cab so that it does not extend beyond the rear wheels of the vehicle. Moreover, it is preferable that the boom structure be centrally located withrespect to the rear wheels of the vehicle for even distribution of the boom forces on the rear wheels. In order to obtain the desired positioning of the boom structure with respect to the rear wheels of the vehicle and yet maintain the operators cab within the width for a vehicle traveling along a highway, as prescribed by law, the operators cab 40 is supported for movement between a traveling position and working position. When the machine 10 is traveling along a highway, the operators cab 40 is in its traveling position illustrated in FIG. 3. In this position, the operatorfs cab 40 has a portion which extends into the vertical plane in which a part of the boom structure 21, namely, a plane in which a part of the cradle 26 moves when moved vertically by actuation of the hydraulic motor-25. In this position, the operators cab interferes with movement of the cradle member 26 of the boom structure to its position illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 1 and, therefore, the boom structure with the operators cab in the position shown in FIG. 3 cannot move to the dotted position illus trated in FIG. 1, to which position it should be'rnoved when it is desired to perform certain operations. This traveling position of the operators cab does not extend outwardly of the adjacent rear wheels of the vehicle and the width of the carrier is within the desired width.

As noted above, the mobile machine 10 is constructed so that the operators cab 40 may be moved relative to the supporting platform 20 and relative to the boom structune 21 so as to be in a non-interfering relation with-the movement of the boom in a vertical plane. The operators cab specifically moves from its traveling position illustrated in FIG, 3 to its working position illustrated in FIG. 2, wherein it is located outwardly of the adjacent rear wheels and wherein no portion of the operators cab lies in the vertical plane in which the cradle 26 moves upon actuation of the hydraulic motor 25. Thus, the operators cab 40 when in its working position is in a non-interfering position relative to the boom structure 21.

The two positions of the operators cab 40 are illustrated schematically in FIG. 4. The operators cab 40 is shown in full lines in FIG. 4 in its traveling position, as illustrated in FIG. 3, in which position the mobile vehicle 10 has a width which is within that prescribed by law for traveling along highways. However, in this position, as noted above, the operators cab will interfere with the vertical movement of the boom structure. When the vehicle has reached the location where it is to be used, the operators cab is then moved from the position shown in full lines to the working position shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 4, wherein the operators cab projects outw-ardly beyond the wheels of the vehicle and is no longer in a position where it would interfere with the vertical movement of the boom structure. Upon completion of the work operation and prior to transferring the vehicle to another site, the boom is moved to its travel position, i.e., the full line position in FIG. 1, and the cab is then moved to its travel position illustrated in FIG. 3. This cab movement is permitted due to suitable clearance between the boom when in its traveling position and the cab 40 as should be apparent from the above. The cab is preferably, however, provided with a step or recess 4%, as shown in FIG. 5, in the inside rear corner of the cab. The recess 40a accommodates a portion of the boom sup port mechanism including cradle 26, shown diagrammatically in FIG. 5, when the cab and boom are in their respective traveling positions. While this clearance or recess 40a will accommodate the boom when the latter is in its travel position, the cab interferes with pivoting movement of the boom and specifically pivotal movement of the cradle towards its dotted line position of FIG. 1.

Specifically, the mobile material handling machine 10 includes means supporting the operators cab 40 for movement relative to the boom structure 21 and the supporting platform 20 between its traveling and working positions. The means for supporting the operators ca-b specifically comprises a supporting frame member 50, best seen in FIG. 5, which pivotally supports by means of a pivot pin 51 an operators platform 52,- the forward end of which carries the operators cab 40. Suitable clearances are provided between the supporting platform 20'and the operators platform 52 soas to permit pivoting movement of the operators platform 52 relative to the supporting platform 20.

The operators platform 52 is supported forwardly of the support member 50 by means of a suitable support structure including a support plate member 55 which extends vertically and has an opening 5-6 therein through which the pivot pin providing the pivot axis 24 is supported. A support plate 57 is connected at one end of the uppermost portion of the plate 55 and extends outwardly away from the support platform 20 and angularly relative thereto. A second support plate 58 is suitably connected to the plate 55 and extends outwardly therefrom. Three vertically extending support plates 59, 60, and 61 connect the plates 57' and 5S and provide a rigid supporting structure.

The support plate 58 has support portions 62 and 63 which project outwardly beyond the support plates 59 and 60, respectively. These support portions cooperate with support portions 65, and 66, respectively, carried on the operators platform 52. The support portions 65 and 66 comprise flange portions or channel members which are rigidly connected with the operators platform 52. Suitable bearings 68 and 69 are interposed between the support portions 65, 62 and the support portions. 66, 63,, respectively, so as to permit relative sliding movement of these portions. From the above description, it. should be apparent that the operators platform 52 and the operators cab 40 carried by the platform 52 are supported for pivoting movement relative to the support platform 20 by means of the support member 50 and the pivot pin 51 at one end and the support structure which includes the supporting portions 62, 63, and 65, 66, respectively, adjacent the operators cab 40.

The operators cab 40 is moved between its traveling and working positions manually and when it is desired to move the operators cab from the position illustrated in FIG. 3 to the position illustrated in FIG. 2, the operatorv may manually engage the operators cab or a portion of the operators platform 52 spaced from the pivot pin 51 and manually push the operators cab outwardly of the support platform 20. In so doing, the support portions 65, 66 slide relative to the support portions 62, 63 which are connected to the support platform 20. The operator may then effect a locking of the operators cab 40 and the operators platform 52 in the position to which it is moved by actuation of a locking means forming a part of the support platform 20. i v

The means for locking the operators platform 52 and the operators cab 40 in the position to which they are moved is best shown in FIG. 9 and comprises a locking bolt 70 and a cooperating nut 71. The locking bolt 70 extends vertically through an opening in the support portion 63 of the support plate 58 and through a slot 72 in the support portion 66 connected with the operators cab. A suitable lug 73-is welded to the sup port portion 63 and engages the head of the bolt 70 to prevent rotation thereof. By loosening the nut 71 relative to the bolt 70,, it. should be apparent that the support portion 66 may slide relative thereto with the slot 72 moving relative to the-bolt 70. The nut 71 may then be tightened so as to lock the support portions 66 and 63 together and thereby lock the operators cab in the position to which it is moved. As can best be seen in FIG. 5, it is necessary to slant the slot 72 so that the slot may move properly with respect to the bolt 70 due to the fact that the slot does move about the axis of the pin 51.

As described hereinabove, the mobile vehicle includes controls actuated by the operator located in the operators cab for controlling the various hydraulic motors incorporated in the machine for actuating the various movements and mechanisms noted hereinabove. Certain of the controls comprise foot pedals 80, and other of-the controls comprise joy sticks 81. Upon actuation of the joy sticks 81 and the foot pedals 80, certain control mechanisms are actuated to effect actuation of the hydraulic motors. The control mechanisms which are operated in response to actuation of the operators controls are well known and will not be described in detail. It should suffice to say that the control pedals and joy sticks, when actuated, effect movement of separate link members, schematically illustrated in FIG. 5, and generally designated 85a-85e, which in turn actuate corresponding conventional valve members, generally designated 86a-86e. The valve members 86a 86c are suitably connected by flexible conduits 89 to the hydraulic motors to be actuated there-by. The valve 86c actuated by movement of the control link 85c effects actuation of the hydraulic motor 25. The control pedal and joy sticks, of course, move upon movement of the operators cab 40. Moreover, the valve members 86a- 86e and the link members 85a-8Se likewise move with the operators cab 40. Thus, there is no need to provide a complicated linkage for adjustment purposes.

By the present invention, when the operators cab 40 is located in its traveling position wherein a portion thereof extends in an interfering relation with the vertical movement of the boom structure 21, as described hereinabove, it is desirable not to actuate the motor 25. Thus, the mobile material handling machine 10 includes a means for preventing or blocking operation of the motor 25 when the operators cab is in its position illustrated in FIG. 3 wherein it interferes with the movement of the boom structure 21. Specifically, .the means for preventing the operation of the motor 25 prevents movement of the link 85:: by the corresponding operators control lever, and, specifically, the link 852 is locked against movement in a direction to actuate the valve 864: when the operators cab is in the position illustrated in FIG. 3.

The link 8512 is locked against movement when the operators carb is in the position shown in full lines in FIG. 4 by means of a suitable lug member 90, shown in FIG. 7. The lug member 90 is secured to the underside of the plate 58 and is curved at a right angle and has a projecting portion 90a extending substantially horizontally. The actuating link 850 carries a suitable plate 91 which has an opening 92 therein which is in alignment with the projecting lug portion 90a. When the operators cab is in the position illustrated in FIG. 3, the lug portion 90:; extends through the opening 92 in plate 91, as shown in full lines in FIG. 7, and thus prevents movement of the link 852. When the operators cab moves to the position shown in FIG. 2, the plate 91 and the operating member e move with the operators platform, as does all of the operatinglinkage and operators controls, and the plate 91 moves clear of the portion 99a of the lug 90. In so doing, the control link 85:: may then be moved to actuate the valve 86a to effect operation of the motor 25 and effect vertical movement of the boom structure 21.

From the above description, it should be apparent that applicant has provided a new and improved mobile material handling machine and that certain modifications, changes, and adaptations my be made therein by those skilled in the art to which it relates, and it is hereby intended to cover all such modifications, changes, and adaptations which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A mobile material handling machine comprising a carrier, a support platform carried by said carrier, a boom structure supported on said support platform and adapted to support a tool on the outermost end thereof means for moving at least a part of said boom structure in a predetermined path, and operators cab supported on said support platform adjacent said boom structure, and means supporting said said operators cab for movement from a first traveling position in which a part thereof is located in said path whereby said operators cab interferes with the extent of movement of said boom structure to a second working position in which said operators cab is located in a noninterfering relation with the movement of said boom structure.

2. A mobile material handling machine comprising a carrier, a support platform carried by said carrier for rotation about a vertical axis, a boom structure supported on said support platform and adapted to support a tool on the outermost end thereof, means for moving at least a part of said-boom structure about a horizontal axis and in a predetermined path lying in a vertical plane, an operators cab supported on said support platform adjacent said boom structure, and means supporting said operators cab for movement from a first traveling position in which a part thereof is located in said vertically extending plane whereby said operators cab interferes with the extent of movement of said boom structure in said plane to a second working position in which said operators cab is located to one side of said plane in a non-interfering relation with the movement of said boom structure.

3. A mobile material handling machine comprising a carrier having spaced rear ground-engaging wheels, a support platform carried by said carrier, a boom structure supported on said support platform and centrally located between said spaced rear ground-engaging wheels and adapted to support a tool on the outermost end thereof, means for moving at least a part of said boom structure in a path lying in a vertically extending plane, an operators cab supported on said support platform adjacent said boom structure, and means supporting said operators cab for movement from a first traveling position in which said operators cab has a part located in said vertical plane whereby said operators cab interferes with the extend of movement of said boom structure in said plane to a second Working position wherein said operators cab is located to one side of said plane in a non-interfering relation With the movement of said boom structure and having at least a part thereof spaced outwardly of the ground-engaging wheels on one side of the carrier.

4. A mobile material handling machine comprising a carrier, a support platform carried by the carrier for rotation about a vertical axis, a boom structure supported on said support platform and adapted to a support a tool on the outermost end thereof, means for moving at least a part of the boom structure about a horizontal axis and in a path lying in a vertical plane, an operators platform pivotally supported adjacent said support platform for movement relative thereto toward and away from the boom structure supported thereon, an operators cab supported on said operators platform for pivoting movement with said operators platform from a first traveling position wherein a part of said operators cab is located in said vertical plane whereby said operators cab interferes with the movement of said boom structure in said plane to a second working position in which said operators cab is located to one side of said plane in a non-interfering relation with the movement of said boom structure.

5. A mobile material handling machine as defined in claim 4 wherein said support platform includes first support portions extending therefrom and said operators platform includes second support portion cooperating with said first support portions and movable relative thereto upon movement of said operators platform relative to said support platform.

6. A mobile material handling machine as defined in claim 5 wherein said first support portions comprise projecting plate portions and said second support portions comprise flange members engaging the upper side of said plate portions for sliding movement relative thereto.

7. A mobile material handling machine as defined in claim 6 further including locking means for locking said operators platform in the position to which it is moved, including fastening means extending through an opening in one of said support portions and through a slot in another of said support portions which is movable relative to the fastening means. I

8. A mobile material handling machine comprising a carrier, a support platform carried by said carrier for rotation about a vertical axis, a boom structure supported on said support platform and adapted to support a tool on the outermost end thereof, power means for moving said boom structure about a horizontal axis so that at least a part thereof moves in a path lying in a vertical plane, an operators cab supported on said support platform adjacent said boom structure, means supporting said operators cab for movement from a first position in which a part thereof is located in said vertical plane whereby said operators cab interferes with the extent of movement of the boom structure in said plane to a second position in which said operators cab is located to one side of said plane in a non-interfering relation with the movement of said boom structure, control means for actuating said power means for moving saidboom structure including an operators control member located in said operators cab and means responsive to operation of said operators control member to effect actuation of said power means, and means for blocking operation of said control means when said operators cab is in said first position so that said control means is inoperative and which is ineffective when said operators cab moves to its said second position.

9. A mobile material handling machine comprising a carrier having spaced rear ground-engaging wheel means, a support platform carried by said carrier for rotation about a vertical axis, a boom structure supported on said support platform centrally between the spaced groundengaging wheel means and adapted to support a tool on the outermost end thereof, power means for moving said boom structure about a horizontal axis so that at least a part thereof moves in a path lying in a vertical plane, an operators cab supported on said support platform adjacent saidboom structure, means supporting said operators cab for pivotal movement from a first position in which a part thereof is located in said vertical plane whereby said operators cab interferes with the extent of movement of the boom structure in said plane to a second position wherein said operators cab is located to one side of said plane in a non-interfering relation with the movement of said boom structure and outwardly of the rear ground-engaging wheel means on one side of said carrier, control means for actuating said power means for moving said boom structure including an operators control member located in said operators cab and means responsive to operation of said operators control member to effect actuation of said power means, and means for blocking operation of said control means when said operators cab is in its said first position so that said control means is inoperative and which is ineffective when said operators cab moves to its said second position.

10. A mobile material handling machine as defined in claim 9 wherein said power means comprises a hydraulic motor and said control means responsive to operation of said operators control comprises a valve actuating member movable upon movement of said operators control to actuate a valve for controlling operation of said hydraulic power means, and said means for blocking operation of said control means when said operators cab is in its first position comprises means for preventing movement of said valve actuating member when said operators cab is in its said first position.

11. A mobile material handling machine as defined in claim 10 wherein said valve actuating member carries a plate member having an opening therein and said means for preventing movement of said valve actuating member comprises alug member connected with said support platform and which extends through said opening in said plate member when said operators cab is in its said first position, and said plate member and said valve actuating member move relative to said lug member upon movement of the operators cab to its second position so that said lug member is free of said opening.

12. A mobile material handling machine comprising a carrier, a support platform carried by said carrier for rotation about a vertical axis, a boom structure supported on said support platform and adapted to support a tool on the outermost end thereof, hydraulic power means for moving said boom structure about a horizontal axis so that at least a part thereof moves in a path lying in a vertical plane, an operators cab supported on said support platform adjacent said boom structure, means supporting said operators cab for movement from a first position in which a part thereof is located in said vertical plane whereby said operators cab interferes with the extent of movement of the boom structure in said plane to a second position wherein said operators cab is located to one side of said plane in a non-interfering relation with the movement of said boom structure, control means for actuating said hydraulic power means for moving said boom struc ture and supported for movement with said operators cab between its said first and second positions and including an operators control member located in said operators cab, valve means for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic power means, and linkage means interconnecting said control member and said valve means to effect operation of said valve means upon actuation of said control member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. A MOBILE MATERIAL HANDLING MACHINE COMPRISING A CARRIER, A SUPPORT PLATFORM CARRIED BY SAID CARRIER, A BOOM STRUCTURE SUPPORTED ON SAID SUPPORT PLATFORM AND ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A TOOL ON THE OUTERMOST END THEREOF MEANS FOR MOVING AT LEAST A PART OF SAID BOOM STRUCTURE IN A PREDETERMINED PATH, AND OPERATOR''S CAB SUPPORTED ON SAID SUPPORT PLATFORM ADJACENT SAID BOOM STRUCTURE, AND MEANS SUPPORTING SAID SAID OPERATOR''S CAB FOR MOVEMENT FROM A FIRST TRAVELING POSITION IN WHICH A PART THEREOF IS LOCATED IN SAID PATH WHEREBY SAID OPERATOR''S CAB INTERFERES WITH THE EXTENT OF MOVEMENT OF SAID BOOM STRUCTURE TO A SECOND WORKING POSITION IN WHICH SAID OPERATOR''S CAB IS LOCATED IN A NONINTERFERING RELATION WITH THE MOVEMENT OF SAID BOOM STRUCTURE. 